Guardiola banking on Iheanacho

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola says that Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho is a capable replacement for Sergio Aguero, who has just been hit with a four-match ban.

Aguero saw red after a horror tackle on Chelsea defender David Luiz in the final moments of City’s 3-1 loss to the Blues, which sparked a stoppage-time brawl between both sets of players.

The Argentina striker will now miss City’s matches against Leicester City, Watford, Arsenal and Hull City, but Guardiola is not fazed by the prospect as he believes Iheanacho is a capable replacement for the attacker.

“We are going to accept the ban and keep going. This is not the first time (we have lost Aguero to a ban).

“He was off for three games and Nolito too but it didn’t make any difference.

“We accept the ban and we will deal with it.

“There are players that we have that can play in that position and Kelechi is one of them,” Guardiola said.

Iheanacho thrived in Aguero’s absence earlier in the season, famously scoring in the 2-1 derby defeat of city rivals, Manchester United.

The 20-year-old striker has a strike rate of one goal in every three Premier League games for City this season.